Latch



. C. NWARD.

LATCH.

No. 288,639. Patented Nov. 20, 1883.

'INVBNT03- ATTORNEYS.

i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES INWARD, OF OSAGE, IOWA.

` LATCH.

j SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,639, dated November 20, 1883.

Application filed June 5, 1883. (Model.) i

5 have invented a new and useful Door-Latch,

of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to latches for doors, Sto.; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction of the same, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure lis a perspective view of thedevice complete. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line x x in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view,

Vin perspective, of the casing with parts broken away, so as to expose the slidingwedge, and Fig. 5 is a perspective detail view of the latch detached from the casing. y The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.'

A in the drawings designates the base-plate, which is formed at one end with a casing, B, the front side or face of which hasa recess, C, surrounded by an annular ilange, D, to receive the neck or shank of the knob or handle by which my improved latch is in practice intended to be manipulated. 'Ihe said handle, which is shown only in Fig. 2 of the drawings, is provided with a stem, F, square or polygonal in cross-section, which passes through a correspondingly-shaped eye, F', in the inner end of the latch F. The latter, which is thus pivoted in the casing B, extends through a slot, G, in the side of the latter, and under a keeper, H, at the outer end of the base-plate, beyond which it projects, as atV I, so as to be capable of engaging a catch which is to be attached to the door-post, but which is not shown in the drawings, and which forms no part of my invention.

J is a spring suitably attached to the baseplate A, and forcing the latch F in a downward direction, so that it will automatically engage and be held in contact with the locking-catchto which reference has been made above.

Between the keeper H and the face of the latch is fitted a sliding plate, K, having a handle, L, which extends through a longitudinal horizontal slot in the face of the keeper, so as to be readily manipulated. The said sliding plate has upon its inner side a Wedgeshaped projection, MN, upon the face of the latch. It will be seen that by means ofthe said wedgeplate the latch maybe locked and held securely in either araised or lowered position,thus e11- abling it to be either locked when in engagement with the locking-catch or held raised, so as to be prevented from engaging the said catch.

My improved latch is exceedingly simple in construction, durable, and useful for a variety of purposes. Its simplicity of construction renders it not liable to get out of order, and it may be manufactured at a small expense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire'to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- As an improvement in latches, the combination of the base-plate A, having casing B and keeper H, the stem E, latch F, mounted upon the said stem, and having the stud or projec tion N, the spring J, the plate K, fitted to slide under the keeper H, and having a wedgeshaped projection, M, adapted to engage the stud N upon the latch, and a thumb-piece projecting from the slide K through a slot in the face of the keeper H, all arranged and operating substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES INWARD.

projection, M, adapted to engage a stud or p 

